Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer, at least one strength member extending along the length of and disposed inside the jacket, at least one seismic sensor mounted in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member, and a void filler made from a material introduced into the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change thereafter. The jacket includes an inner layer in contact with and having adhesiveness to the void filler, and an outer layer disposed over the outer layer and having substantially no adhesiveness.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer, at least one strength member extending along the length of and disposed inside the jacket, at least one seismic sensor mounted in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member, and a void filler made from a material introduced into the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change thereafter. The jacket includes an inner layer in contact with and having adhesiveness to the void filler, and an outer layer disposed over the outer layer and having substantially no adhesiveness.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.

Abstract: A marine seismic streamer includes a jacket substantially covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member is disposed along the length of the jacket. A sensor mount is coupled to the strength member. At least one particle motion sensor is suspended within the sensor mount at a selected location along the jacket. The at least one particle motion sensor is suspended in the jacket by at least one biasing device. A mass of the particle motion sensor and a force rate of the biasing device are selected such that a resonant frequency of the particle motion sensor within the sensor jacket is within a predetermined range. The sensor mount is configured such that motion of the jacket, the sensor mount and the strength member is substantially isolated from the particle motion sensor.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket and at least one seismic sensor disposed in a sensor holder inside the jacket. The at least one sensor is oriented inside the sensor holder such that a response of the at least one sensor is substantially longitudinally symmetric.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the jacket inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed inside the jacket. The seismic sensor is disposed in a mount. The mount defines a sealed, liquid filled chamber inside the jacket. A material fills the void spaces inside the jacket and outside the chamber. The material is introduced to the void spaces in liquid form and cures to a gel thereafter.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer mounted to the at least one strength member. The streamer includes means for retaining the at least one sensor spacer to the at least one strength member. The means for retaining provides substantial acoustic isolation between the at least one spacer and the at least one strength member.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the jacket, and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed is mounted in a respective sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. The streamer include means for retaining the at least one sensor in the respective sensor spacer. The means for retaining provides acoustic isolation between the at least one sensor and the respective spacer.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention comprises a particle velocity sensor that includes a housing with a geophone mounted in the housing. A fluid that substantially surrounds the geophone is included within the housing. The particle velocity sensor has an acoustic impedance within the range of about 750,000 Newton seconds per cubic meter (Ns/m3) to about 3,000,000 Newton seconds per cubic meter (Ns/m3). In another embodiment the invention comprises method of geophysical exploration in which a seismic signal is generated in a body of water and detected with a plurality of co-located particle velocity sensors and pressure gradient sensors positioned within a seismic cable. The output signal of either or both of the particle velocity sensors or the pressure gradient sensors is modified to substantially equalize the output signals from the particle velocity sensors and the pressure gradient sensors. The output signals from particle velocity sensors and pressure gradient sensors are then combined.

Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the jacket. The strength member is disposed inside the jacket. Seismic sensors are disposed at spaced apart locations along the interior of the jacket. An acoustically transparent material fills the space inside the jacket. The material is introduced into the inside of the jacket in liquid form and undergoes a state change upon exposure to radiation. The radiation in one embodiment is ultraviolet radiation. The radiation in one embodiment is electron beam radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention comprises a particle velocity sensor that includes a housing with a geophone mounted in the housing. A fluid that substantially surrounds the geophone is included within the housing. The particle velocity sensor has an acoustic impedance within the range of about 750,000 Newton seconds per cubic meter (Ns/m3) to about 3,000,000 Newton seconds per cubic meter (Ns/m3). In another embodiment the invention comprises method of geophysical exploration in which a seismic signal is generated in a body of water and detected with a plurality of co-located particle velocity sensors and pressure gradient sensors positioned within a seismic cable. The output signal of either or both of the particle velocity sensors or the pressure gradient sensors is modified to substantially equalize the output signals from the particle velocity sensors and the pressure gradient sensors. The output signals from particle velocity sensors and pressure gradient sensors are then combined.

Abstract: A marine seismic streamer has a hydrophone housing positioned in the streamer with the hydrophone housing having ends and rigid side walls, a hydrophone positioned in the hydrophone housing, a soft compliant solid material filling the housing, and openings in the hydrophone housing adapted to substantially permit passage of pressure waves and to substantially attenuate passage of shear waves. Another embodiment is a hydrophone housing having ends, rigid side walls, and openings in the hydrophone housing adapted to substantially permit passage of pressure waves and to substantially attenuate passage of shear waves. The openings are open ends of the housing, in the side walls of the housing, in the end walls of the housing, or in both the side walls and end walls of the housing.

Abstract: A cable for towing marine devices is disclosed. The cable includes a strength member and at least one conduit associated with the strength member. The conduit has apertures therein at selected locations along the conduit. The apertures are adapted to conduct gas from a source into water in which the cable is disposed. Also disclosed is a method for improving the flow of a cable through water. The method includes releasing a gaseous bubble stream proximate an outer surface of said cable while the water is moving relative to the cable.

Abstract: A seismic sensor is disclosed which includes at least one particle motion sensor, and a sensor jacket adapted to be moved through a body of water. The particle motion sensor is suspended within the sensor jacket by at least one biasing device. In one embodiment, a mass of the sensor and a force rate of the biasing device are selected such that a resonant frequency of the sensor within the sensor jacket is within a predetermine range.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed for joining two cable ends. The connector includes a load transfer plug adapted to couple to a strength member in each end of the cable. A connector insert assembly is coupled to an inner portion of each load transfer plug. Conductor terminals are disposed in corresponding openings of the insert. The terminals protrude from the insert. An alignment sleeve holder is coupled to one of the insert assemblies. The alignment sleeve holder includes alignment sleeves for receiving the protruding terminals. A housing element is sealingly coupled to an exterior of each of the plugs. The housing elements are adapted to coupled to each other and to urge the connector insert assemblies into contact with each other, and to transfer axial load between the plug coupled to each end of the cable. The housing elements have rotational and axial alignment features on corresponding surfaces. The housing elements are adapted to be removed from the plugs without uncoupling the cable from the plug.

Abstract: A cable for towing marine devices is disclosed. The cable includes a strength member and at least one conduit associated with the strength member. The conduit has apertures therein at selected locations along the conduit. The apertures are adapted to conduct gas from a source into water in which the cable is disposed. Also disclosed is a method for improving the flow of a cable through water. The method includes releasing a gaseous bubble stream proximate an outer surface of said cable while the water is moving relative to the cable.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention comprises a particle velocity sensor that includes a housing with a geophone mounted in the housing. A fluid that substantially surrounds the geophone is included within the housing. The particle velocity sensor has an acoustic impedance within the range of about 750,000 Newton seconds per cubic meter (Ns/m3) to about 3,000,000 Newton seconds per cubic meter (Ns/m3). In another embodiment the invention comprises method of geophysical exploration in which a seismic signal is generated in a body of water and detected with a plurality of co-located particle velocity sensors and pressure gradient sensors positioned within a seismic cable. The output signal of either or both of the particle velocity sensors or the pressure gradient sensors is modified to substantially equalize the output signals from the particle velocity sensors and the pressure gradient sensors. The output signals from particle velocity sensors and pressure gradient sensors are then combined.